Dead Souls | Teaching Key Figures

Character Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major characters in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Characters

Pavel Invanovitch Tchitchikov - This character buys serfs' dead souls.

The Narrator - This character is an unbiased participant in the novel who offers interesting views about the characters and Russian culture.

Selifan - This character is a coachman who seems very gruff and often gets drunk and forgets about his duties.

Petrushka - This character is a footman who always wears the same shirt, pants, and jacket every day.

Manilov - This character is kind, overly caring, and the first person to sell their dead souls.

Madame Korobotcha - This character is...
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